His Genius Wife Is A Superstar Chapter 1657: Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
Previously on His Genius Wife Is A Superstar...
The level of obsession among the Filipino Black Stars was truly on another level. Taking a deep breath, Jin Liwei decided to stop overthinking the matter. Provided these Black Stars didn't try to steal his wife away, he was willing to let them indulge in their eccentric delusions.
"En." Jin Liwei gave a firm nod, having reached a conclusion.
Iris Long let out a soft giggle.
"Hm?" His eyes immediately softened as he turned to look at her. The expression he wore now was a world away from the cold gaze he had directed at the bold fan just moments ago.
"It's nothing," she replied. "I was just thinking about how exceptionally handsome you look today."
"Do I truly?"
"Uh-huh."
"Have I mentioned yet that you look breathtaking today?" he questioned.
"Yes, you have. Quite a few times already." Another giggle escaped her lips.
Standing on the other side of Iris, Jiang Ying Yue cleared her throat to get their attention.
Iris turned and beamed a radiant smile at her—a look so dazzling that Jiang Ying Yue momentarily forgot about her own husband. For a split second, she even struggled to remember her own name. Even though they were close friends, Jiang Ying Yue was not immune to the lethal allure of such a beautiful woman. It was easy to see why Jin Liwei was so deeply infatuated with her.
"Welcome back to Orchidia Philippines, Chairman Iris Long," Linda Chua said, greeting her with a wide grin. "CEO Jin."
"President Linda Chua, you've done a wonderful job with everything," Iris remarked while shaking Linda’s hand with a smile.
Following this, the couple proceeded to exchange handshakes with the remaining executives.
Dom maintained a sharp, professional business smile as he shook hands with his sister. "Congratulations, President Chua."
"I appreciate it, Assistant Chua," Linda answered, her face mirroring his professional expression perfectly.
Then, Dom flashed a mischievous grin.
Linda shot him a brief glare before masking it with her corporate smile again. "Don't cause any trouble. Ma will skin you alive if you do."
Dom rolled his eyes playfully. "I'm not stupid! Do you really think I'd mess this up for my boss? Who do you take me for?"
Fighting the urge to roll her eyes back, Linda muttered, "Just behave. Now move along. Shoo!"
"Hehehe. I can't leave. My place is right by my boss's side!"
Linda let out a sigh, resisting the temptation to kick her younger brother. To maintain her composure, she reminded herself that the Chua family’s rapid success was entirely due to Dominic’s intimate connection with Iris Long.
It was undeniable that Dominic’s ties provided the family with the confidence to step out of their comfort zones. Instead of remaining as lifelong employees for others, they had taken a gamble and successfully became their own bosses.
Returning to the task at hand, Linda gave her brother’s shoulder a quick pat and escorted the Jin couple and their followers toward the building's main entrance.
A long ribbon blocked the way.
The invited guests and members of the press began filing out through the side exit to watch the official ribbon-cutting. They had been waiting inside to enjoy the air-conditioning, but now that the chairman had arrived, it was time for everyone to gather for the public ceremony.
Outside, the fans of various celebrities were so excited they nearly pushed over the barricades. While the celebrities had arrived one by one earlier, seeing them all come out together now made the crowd's energy nearly impossible to contain.
Law enforcement, volunteers, and security teams struggled to keep the masses under control.
Sensing the potential for danger, the Black Stars acted quickly to help manage the crowd from their side of the fence. They linked together to form a human wall, using their bodies to prevent a dangerous stampede.
Iris, her heart pounding with anxiety, finally breathed a sigh of relief. She had been ready to rush down the steps to help if her husband hadn't been holding her firmly. Jiang Ying Yue and the rest of the bodyguards moved closer, tightening their protective circle around her.
To Iris, the Black Stars were incredibly precious. It was her natural instinct to protect them, even if she knew she couldn't do much on her own.
"Everyone, stay calm! Have you no shame?!" the Black Stars shouted. "We have international guests here! Is this the embarrassing image you want to show them? We are Filipinos! Let’s show the world our best side!"
These slogans were chanted repeatedly at the rowdy fans. Jin Liwei was skeptical at first, but to his surprise, the tactic worked.
After the words were repeated a few more times, the chaotic crowd began to settle down.
"You're right, Filipino fans are the best!"
"Exactly!"
Relief washed over the security and police officers. Had the situation escalated, they would have been forced to call in reinforcements who might not have been as gentle with the crowd.
Iris Long exhaled in relief once more. As a sign of her gratitude, she blew several large flying kisses toward her fans in suits, the Black Stars.
Jin Liwei nodded, satisfied. It appeared that no matter the location, his wife’s Black Stars could always be counted on.
The cameras captured everything. Later that day, news outlets would highlight how impressive the Black Stars were for their role in crowd control. They would eventually be cited as the gold standard for fan club discipline and ethics.
At last, the ribbon-cutting began.
Linda Chua offered a brief opening speech, welcoming everyone to the grand opening of Orchidia Philippines.
"And now, please join me in welcoming our founder. Despite her hectic life as a mother, wife, musician, and entrepreneur, she flew to the Philippines just to be with us today. Ladies and gentlemen, Chairman Iris Long!!!"
Iris accepted the microphone, nodding to the cheering public. "I am grateful for such a warm welcome." She then turned her attention to the fans behind the barriers. "That situation earlier was risky. Please take care of yourselves. If anyone feels unwell, we have free medical staff on-site. Orchidia Philippines will also be distributing refreshments shortly."
The Black Stars roared, "Boss Iris, you are the greatest!"
Even those who weren't her fans joined in the cheering, delighted by the promise of snacks. The large tarpaulins overhead provided much-needed shade, and Orchidia staff brought out massive industrial fans to combat the heat. The level of comfort provided was far superior to any celebrity event they had attended before.
The other fans were left in awe.
"Who is she? Iris Long? She’s stunning! She looks even better than my own idol!"
"She's been all over the news lately. She's a singer from China and the founder of Orchidia. She's married to that billionaire next to her. Very high-class."
Overhearing this, a nearby Black Star corrected them immediately, "Our Boss Iris isn't just 'high-class.' She was a genuine heiress long before she married a billionaire. Even without her music, she was already incredibly wealthy."
"That's the truth!" another Black Star added.
Intrigued, the other fans began asking the Black Stars for more details about Iris Long. The Black Stars were more than happy to brag about how amazing their Boss Iris was. If they could recruit more people, the Filipino branch of the Black Stars would become a formidable force—perhaps the strongest support group she had outside of her home country.
Back at the ceremony, Iris finished her remarks and took the scissors from Linda. After posing for the photographers, she officially cut the ribbon.
Champagne was brought out.
Iris took a ceremonial sip for the cameras before returning the glass to the tray, and Jin Liwei followed suit.
Linda then escorted the group inside the headquarters.
Iris gave one last wave to the crowd before entering the building with her husband to begin meeting with the guests.
The press members were busy documenting every moment, filming and taking endless photos. They couldn't help but notice that even the top local celebrities seemed to fade into the background when compared to Iris Long.
She possessed an undeniable "star" quality—the kind that suggested she was destined for global fame.
Her husband, the billionaire head of Jin Corporation, was equally striking. However, his allure came from his intimidating authority as a business tycoon rather than charm. It would be an overstatement to say CEO Liam Jin was approachable. His demeanor was cold and detached, showing warmth only when his gaze landed on his wife.
Between his handsome features and towering presence, he was impossible to miss. Yet, Iris Long had a magnetic energy so powerful that she commanded the room without even trying.
A single smile from her was enough to make anyone lose their train of thought.
Even the famous local stars felt a bit starstruck meeting her for the first time. These were people at the very top of the domestic entertainment industry.
The seasoned reporters whispered among themselves about the obvious gap in star power. Though they knew their local stars better, the difference in "it-factor" was impossible to ignore.
They also observed how naturally Iris Long interacted with everyone, from high-profile guests to the regular employees. Her graceful attitude remained consistent regardless of who she was speaking to.